Authorities announced Monday that a University of Virginia student is in custody after the killing of three of the school’s football players in a shooting Sunday night, which injured 2 others. The school’s president confirmed Monday that the suspect, identified by authorities as student Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., was in custody.
UVA President Jim Ryan revealed during a press conference the deceased victims identities: Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry. Two other students, one in critical condition and one in good condition, were wounded in the shooting and were receiving treatment. Chandler was a second-year student, Davis was a third-year student and Perry was a fourth-year student. Ryan told reporters: “This is a sad, shocking and tragic day for our UVA community… The entire university community is grieving this morning. My heart is broken for the victims and their families and for all those who knew and loved them, and they are all in my prayers.”
Police responded to a call of shots fired at approximately 10:30 p.m. Sunday night, and Ryan said that the shooting took place near a campus parking garage on a bus full of students returning from a play in Washington, D.C. During Ryan’s press conference, Tim Longo, the university’s police chief, received word of the suspect’s apprehension. The 22-year-old suspect was taken into custody without incident shortly before 11 a.m. southeast of Charlottesville in Henrico County, Virginia. Longo said the suspect was charged with three counts of second-degree murder and three counts of using a handgun in the commission of a felony.
Virginia’s elected leaders reacted to the shooting on social media: Gov. Glenn Youngkin tweeted: “We had a horrific tragedy overnight at UVA, lives were lost and families changed forever. Due to the diligence and commitment of our law enforcement, the suspect is in custody. While there are still many details to uncover, let us lift up the entire community in prayer.” Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine said in a series of tweets: “Very grateful to law enforcement for their heroic work to apprehend the suspect. I continue to keep the UVA community in my prayers on this tragic day,” and later added: “Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry. Today, we honor their memories after their lives were tragically cut short. I’m keeping their loved ones in my prayers.”
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